Quality of life in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: impact of social support, coping style and hopelessness

Abstract

We aimed to determine whether the quality of life (QOL) in the patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was influenced by satisfaction with social support, coping style and hopelessness. One hundred and thirty-eight HIV-infected patients were prospectively studied in this multicentre, longitudinal study. The QOL was assessed by Medical Outcome Study Health Survey SF-36, social support by Sarason Social Support Questionnaire, hopelessness by Beck Hopelessness Scale, and coping by Billing and Moos Inventory of coping with illness. The QOL did not correlate with age, sex, race, HIV risk factor, education or marital status. Employment (P = 0.0001), higher income (P = 0.03), satisfaction with social support (P = 0.04), regardless of the source of that support, and problem-focused coping (P = 0.03) were associated with a significantly better QOL, while, emotion-focused coping (r = -0.19, P = 0.04), avoidant coping (r = 0.40, P = 0.0001), hopelessness (r = -0.64, P = 0.0001) and AIDS (P = 0.09) were predictors of poorer QOL. Physical functioning correlated positively with employment (P = 0.0001), and inversely with AIDS (P = 0.0002), hopelessness (P = 0.03), avoidant coping (P = 0.03), and age (P = 0.10). At 6 months follow up, QOL score had changed in 20% of the patients; older age (P = 0.01), and lesser satisfaction with social support (P = 0.15) were associated with a decline in QOL, while adherence with antiretroviral therapy (P = 0.006) was associated with an increase in QOL score. Seven of 138 patients died during follow up; these patients had significantly lower QOL at baseline than all other patients (P = 0.003). Interventions to alleviate hopelessness, maladaptive coping, and enhancement of satisfaction with social support may improve overall QOL in HIV-infected patients. Older patients with HIV were less satisfied with their social support, were more likely to utilize unhealthy coping styles, and experienced a greater decline in QOL over time.

Promoting Adaptive Coping by Persons With HIV Disease: Evaluation of a Patient/Partner Intervention Model

“…The use of particular coping strategies was also found to affect the level of stress and adaptation differentially. Coping by means of denial was associated with a more rapid progression to AIDS and higher levels of depression (Leserman et al, 1997), while problemfocused coping was associated with a higher quality of life (Swindells, Mohr, Justis, Berman, & Wagener, 1999).…”

“…The use of particular coping strategies was also found to affect the level of stress and adaptation differentially. Coping by means of denial was associated with a more rapid progression to AIDS and higher levels of depression (Leserman et al, 1997), while problemfocused coping was associated with a higher quality of life (Swindells, Mohr, Justis, Berman, & Wagener, 1999).A number of intervention studies have been conducted with HIV-infected individuals with the goal of decreasing psychosocial morbidity and minimizing disease progression. The majority of these studies have used a group intervention approach.…”

A Study on the Self-Reported Quality of Life of HIV-Positive Slum-Dwellers in Mumbai, India

“…'Quality of life' is a multi-dimensional concept whose definition and assessment remains controversial [7,8]. Consequently, various conceptual and operational definitions have been used in QOL [9,10]. Quality of life is conceptualized in terms of "an absence of pain or an ability to function in day to day life" [11].…”

On the relationship between olfactory sensitivity and personality in HIV-seropositive and healthy men

“…Hence, many HIV-seropositive individuals isolate themselves and are reluctant to inform their family and friends about their infection (Leask et al 1997). However, the disclosure of infection to others increases the number of possible sources of satisfying social support, which is one of the strongest determinants of life quality for HIV+ individuals (Friedland et al 1996;Swindells et al 1999).…”